' A Class player, but is he ready for the Premier League ?

I was told by numerous Norwegian media that Mats Daehli was the most talented youngster to come out of Norway for many a year and that he will be class.
I saw his debut at Bolton, pure class against an awful Bolton team, he ran rings around them.
Then at Old Trafford I thought he did nothing.
Against another Championship team Wigan, he was class again.

Lets not put to much pressure on this 18year old kid as I feel he might need another year. Putting him in a struggling Prem team against class Prem teams might not work out at this moment.

Mats you can seen is going to be pure class in the future.

Just my opinion as a Fan.

Your opinions


Cardiff City starlet Mats Daehli is looking to emulate ex Manchester United teammate Adnan Januzaj
18 Feb 2014

After his former Manchester United academy team mate Adnan Januzaj has taken the plaudits in the Premier League this season, Cardiff City's skillful starlet Mats Moller Daehli insists he's keen to follow in his footsteps


If there was one bright spot in Cardiff City’s disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of Wigan , it was the thrilling performance by young Bluebirds midfielder Mats Daehli.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were rocked by the holders after a strike from Fraizer Campbell proved not enough for the hosts as goals from Chris McCann and Ben Watson eased the Championship outfit into the quarter-finals.

But at least against the Latics18-year-old Daehli confirmed early impressions that he is set to become a rather special player indeed.

The creative midfielder signed for the Bluebirds last month from Norwegian club Molde.

It was there he developed under new Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Daehli admits it was the chance to work with his former manager again that was the main motivation for him coming to the Welsh capital.

The pair’s working relationship goes back further than their native Norway though. Daehli was part of the Manchester United youth academy and reserve set-up over seen by the Solskjaer after he finished his legendary playing career at Old Trafford. Daehli failed to make the break-through at United and eventually followed Solskjaer back to Norway.

But it is an old friend and former teammate still trying to make the break-through at United who is Daehli’s Premier League role model right now.

Mats Moller Daehli attacks the Bolton defence

Adnan Januzaj, an exciting forward thinking player like Daehli, arrived at the Manchester giants as a fresh-faced youngster at almost the same time as Daehli back in March 2011.

Januzaj has this season started to play a part in the United first-team under manager David Moyes.

So far this campaign he has made 19 Premier League appearances and grabbed three goals in the process.

The Belgium-born wideman has also featured in the Capital One Cup, FA Cup and Champions League under Moyes.

Daehli said his friend remains an inspiration to him even if he did turn down the chance to link up with Januzaj again at United ahead of his move to Cardiff.

“Adnan arrived at United the week after me and we became friends and trained every day together,” said Daehli.

“I’ve not been in touch with him so much recently, but I met him when Cardiff played United recently which was good.

“He is a big role model for me in that he is young and he is performing for a big team. He is definitely someone I look up to.

“I am hoping there is more to come from me at Cardiff now, but you need to have the right focus and mentality.

“You must want to improve every day.

“Just like Adnan, you can see how he has improved this season and how brave he is on the pitch and that is something I want to do as well.”

Despite his respect for 19-year-old Januzaj and Manchester United, Daehli believes he has made the right decision by following Solskjaer to the Bluebirds.

Adnan Januzaj is enjoying a great season at Manchester United

His aim now is to try to make the break-through into the Cardiff staring XI for their up-coming relegation battle in the Premier League.

So far under Solskjaer Daehli has come off the bench in an FA Cup victory at Bolton to make his debut and made two other substitute appearances against United and Aston Villa in the league.

The cup clash with Wigan on the weekend was his first start for his new club and the live-wire teenager is hoping it might be the first of many more between now and the end of the season.

“I had talks with Manchester United and they had a buy-back clause.

“They had a chat with my dad, but I wanted to play for Cardiff,” said Daehli.

“I just want to play first-team football and play for Ole. I had the offer from him and what he said to me and I want to kick on. I like playing under him that’s why I came to the club.

“I want to start every game, but I know that I am young and still developing and there are parts of my game which I can improve on. But my focus is that I want to play and I want to show that every time I play.”

Daehli’s first task now is to force his way into the side for the Bluebirds big relegation six-pointer at home to Hull on Saturday.

With the Bluebirds two points from safety currently at the foot of the table the teenager said it was a game he and teammates were well aware of the importance of. Daehli commented: “You can look at the table and see that it is very tight so we need to win the Hull game. We know what we need to do.”

Things are certainly moving fast for Daehli who turns 19 on March 2.

This season he made his senior international debut for Norway and he is now aching to make the break-through in the English top-flight.

But one thing looks certain, the level-headed youngster is not going to allow things to go his head.


“I don’t drink champagne so I will give it to my Mum as a present,” added Daehli.

“I’ve just moved into an apartment here with my Mum and I am enjoying it, except for the rain.

“I brought my Mum with me and I’m enjoying being here at this club. It is a dream come true to play for Cardiff.”

He look class but I don't think him and zaha should play in same team given our current position in league.

He's got one major flaw at the moment and that is greed . In the games he has played he has taken on his men got into a brilliant position a few times and instead of laying it off simply to a team mate he tends to go for the spectacular which nearly always go high and wide .

What a player he is going to be though , I can see him at a top 6 club within 3 years . We will struggle to keep him .

He's got one major flaw at the moment and that is greed . In the games he has played he has taken on his men got into a brilliant position a few times and instead of laying it off simply to a team mate he tends to go for the spectacular which nearly always go high and wide .

What a player he is going to be though , I can see him at a top 6 club within 3 years . We will struggle to keep him .

Really? Are you sure you are watching the right player? Zaha is the greedy one. IMO Daehli overdoes the passing at times

Chuck him in for a baptism of fire, with mutch, Bellamy and medel out we are fairly limited anyway.

There is the risk that as a struggling Prem club we could become overly dependent on him and possibly end up burning him out, but I think Ole has done the right thing with Daehli up to now - giving him the odd appearance and build his confidence up. We've got Zaha and Noone to provide the speed at the moment.

That said, both Zaha and Daehli need to work on their end product in my opinion...

He's got one major flaw at the moment and that is greed . In the games he has played he has taken on his men got into a brilliant position a few times and instead of laying it off simply to a team mate he tends to go for the spectacular which nearly always go high and wide .

What a player he is going to be though , I can see him at a top 6 club within 3 years . We will struggle to keep him .

Really? Are you sure you are watching the right player? Zaha is the greedy one. IMO Daehli overdoes the passing at times

I think they are both exactly the same , fantastic players but massively inexperienced for this level .
Every time dahlei has run towards the box he has shot instead of playing in the people supporting him .

His age is irrelevant, I think he is good enough, certainly as good as a number of players we already use week in week out.He will create chances for himself and the players around him. put him in I say

He's got one major flaw at the moment and that is greed . In the games he has played he has taken on his men got into a brilliant position a few times and instead of laying it off simply to a team mate he tends to go for the spectacular which nearly always go high and wide .

What a player he is going to be though , I can see him at a top 6 club within 3 years . We will struggle to keep him .

A few of our players will go to bigger clubs shouldn't things go our way on the pitch.

We are in a desperate situation. He needs to start.

Hes class and will omly get better and better

Annis I think you're right..... Looked class against Bolton and Wigan. My concern about playing him and relying on him to produce the goods in a relegation battle might be to much for him. I think against the other teams in the relegation fight, like Stoke and Hull, he will get bullied off the ball. Having said that though we are struggling for some flare in the side so he may have to play. I'm a firm believer of 'if you're good enough you're old enough' the big question to be answered is, 'is he good enough'?????? Time will tell...

I think Ole is doing it about right at the moment, given him the cup games then using him as a sub to allow him time to adjust. I think he deserves the chance to be in and around the squad and these little sub appearences will help with his development.
I certainly don’t think we should be putting all our hope on him though.

He's the best player in the team for keeping possession, why wouldn't we play him if he's fit?

After Marshall, he'd be the first player on my team sheet!

I have a feeling that he will play a big part in saving our season

From what I have seen he is good enough now. I disagree that he was poor against United, as soon as he cane on he lifted a very ordinary team that night, I was in the main stand so he did all his work below me, maybe as you were in the away end Annis, on the other side of the ground, you couldn't see all that well?? He has the talent now, when your good enough, your old enough

Thought he was quality against villa, as was Eikrem.

We need a starting 11 against hull who are capable of pushing forward in numbers but also have a good work rate.
If we play Daehli zaha and noone then it's obviously a lone striker up top. mutch ekrim/gunnarson, daehli zaha noone campbell for me (4-5-1)
Daehli needs the play time and although i rate Kim, Daehli must be given the nod. One of the best technical players we have at the club. Get him in.

if you are good enough you are old enough.

He's good enough. Just play him off a CF not on the wing as I don't think he's got the pure speed to play out wide but let him influence the game in the final third from the middle.

if you are good enough you are old enough.

He's good enough. Just play him off a CF not on the wing as I don't think he's got the pure speed to play out wide but let him influence the game in the final third from the middle.

I would play him slightly further back, he has great vision, can pick a pass and looks for space. i would go with 4-4-1-1 My midfield four, when fit would be, Medel sitting, with Daehli infront, with Noone and zaha either side, then Mutch or Jones, with campbell up top.

Play him behind campbell for me in than nob bellamys place

From what I have seen he is good enough now. I disagree that he was poor against United, as soon as he cane on he lifted a very ordinary team that night, I was in the main stand so he did all his work below me, maybe as you were in the away end Annis, on the other side of the ground, you couldn't see all that well?? He has the talent now, when your good enough, your old enough

I agree, he did just fine at United.

He is good enough and ready. Cardiff should be happy they have the ownership in him.

Forward minded and has confidence. Seems like someone who will play the killer ball and actually want us to go forward instead of backwards in possession.

He is already more of a threat going forward than Whittingham or Kim. So to me, he plays. Ideal with Mutch.
Zaha i fear is a danger only to Cardiffs hopes for points. Harris would be more a threat as Noone now is